Polymer Clay Faux Dichroic Jewelry

The Holidays are just around the corner, so I've been busy creating some colorful
Faux Dichroic jewelry for my Etsy Shop.  I always wanted to work with real
dichroic glass, but this is the next best thing! I use a nice thick coat of Enviro tex lite resin
to bring my faux glass creations to life.

 

 

Textured Rainbow Earrings

Happy Holidays!  Happy Crafting!

Trendy Stud Earrings Polymer Clay Jewelry

                   Small Stud Earrings

             Wearable Art post earrings, a tiny pop of color 

              for your ears!

 

Large 3/4"

Large 3/4" Stud Earrings

        Find these and more in My Etsy Shop Beadazzle Me

Polymer Clay Tutorial: Mica Shift Mystery Pendants

This is my third in a series of Mica Shift technique tutorials.  I'm fascinated by the Mica Shift effect, and as this tutorial uses an extruder as a primary tool, it's got to be one of favorite methods.  The Mica Shift technique can replicate a 3D-like illusion, some people call it Ghost Image, which seems appropriate this month for Halloween. I hope you will try my new tutorial, it's lots of fun, and makes a great weekend project, just click on the link below!

Mica Shift Mystery Tutorial

Polymer Clay Cuff Bracelet Tutorial

New Tutorial 

Purple Millefiori Cuff Bracelet

I finally finished my latest tutorial, this one took a couple months to complete. I love making cuff bracelets, and I hope people will find my unique technique of constructing them, a great alternative to other methods.

In my new tutorial How to Create a Polymer Clay Cuff Bracelet I reveal my secrets to successfully creating a sturdy & flexible Cuff Bracelet, from start to finish. The Tutorial will guide you step by step on "How To Create" a fabulous Millefiori flower pattern bracelet.

You will learn:
Basic construction of cuff, my way
Decorating cuff/ Inspirations/Ideas/Millefiori technique
Finishing cuff/ Buffing/or Varnish
Drilling cuff & adding magnetic clasp

It includes 24 pages of easy to understand instructions, and 53 color images, Gallery photos of completed cuff bracelet projects. This Millefiori technique (of using small flower canes to decorate) may be used on pendants & other polymer clay pieces. I explain how I do all my millefiori work, so that it appears seamless, and requires little wet-sanding.
Suitable for use by Intermediate to Advanced level polymer clay enthusiasts, will also enjoy it. Some prior experience with polymer clay is needed.

                                                                                                        
 Beadazzle Me Polymer Clay Jewelry    visit my Etsy shop to see all my tutorials!       
                                                   

Polymer Clay Graphics

What's on my work table this week?  Graphic Black & White canes! 

I'm also working on a new Polymer Clay Tutorial, on how I construct my Millefiori Cuff Bracelets. I hope to have it completed soon:)

Please stop by and visit my Etsy Shop to see my latest designs!
Beadazzle Me Polymer Clay Jewelry

Polymer Clay Free Tutorial: Making a mold using Weeds, Flowers, & Pods

  

                                               How to Make a Polymer Clay Mold

Spring has sprung here on the sunny West-Coast of Florida. Flowers are blooming, trees are lush and green, and the weeds are abundant!  It inspired me to go for a walk in the woods, and as polymer clay is always on my mind, I decided to search for something new to use in my mold-making. I found so many interesting shapes and textures that I thought would lend themselves perfectly to polymer clay. A few of the plant specimens are shown below. I found it best to use them right away, as they seem to dry out quickly, and become brittle.

 

Use a conditioned piece of Premo clay that has been rolled out on the #1 setting of the pasta machine. Cut 2 small squares and lay them one on top of the other, so you have a double thickness of clay. Place the clay block on a baking tile. Dust the top of the clay with some cornstarch to act as a release. Trim the plant specimen and arrange it in a pleasing pattern on the clay block. 

Next, cover your work with a piece of parchment paper. Using an acrylic square, press down to embed plants and stems.

Grasp the stems by the ends, and carefully pull them out, so as not to distort the raw clay mold. For the stubborn ones left behind, use a beading pin to gently pry up the pieces. If you are going to use the mold to make earrings you can stop at this step.

 

I like to add a raised frame around the edge when I make a mold for a pendant, it really sets off the design. If you decide to put resin on your pendant, the frame has the added advantage of holding the resin on top of your pendant.

Now, place the mold in your clay oven, and bake for approximately 30 minutes at 275 degrees. 

I hope you enjoy this tutorial, Happy crafting!

Tip:  When using your new mold to make a pendant, dust it thoroughly with cornstarch, so the clay doesn't stick to the mold.

Pendant made using the mold with the raised edge frame

*Note how nicely the thin edge holds the resin

Please stop by and visit my Etsy Shop for Polymer Clay Jewelry, and Tutorials: Beadazzle Me

Polymer Clay Flower Dangle Earrings: Free Tutorial

                 
© Sherri Kellberg,  Beadazzle Me.etsy.com 2014
Polymer Clay Tutorial by artist Sherri Kellberg

Please visit my Etsy Shop for more tutorials & my handmade jewelry   https://www.etsy.com/shop/BeadazzleMe?ref=si_shop
 This is a free tutorial for all my blog followers  
Earrings are my favorite piece of jewelry to create! I love color coordinating them with different outfits. It’s the perfect way to add a splash of color and pizzazz to your style. My Etsy Shop is full of unique Wearable Art jewelry. I hope you enjoy making these earrings, add your own spin on them, try them in sparkly gold or silver! Happy crafting!

Material Needed:  1 package Bronze Premo clay
                              1 package Copper Premo clay
                              1/2" circle cutter & Mini Flower cutter
                              Texture sheet
                              Small flower stamp
                              Bead pin
                              Earring findings: earwires, eye pins, jump rings
                              Turquiose beads

STEP ONE:  Condition a segment of Bronze Premo! clay, roll out on the #2 setting of your pasta machine. Cut out 2 circles with a 1″ cutter.

STEP TWO:  Form each circle into a tube bead shape. Roll until smooth.

STEP THREE:  Roll each tube bead over the texture sheet

STEP FOUR:  Use the bead piercing tool to incise lines & dots on bead. Make a hole horizontally through the top part of the bead. Bake clay beads as per package directions.

STEP FIVE: Making the marbled flower bead.  Condition a segment of Bronze and one of Copper. Marble the colors together, roll out on #1. Cut 4 flower shapes (use 2 flowers to make 1 bead), using the Flower cutter tool.

STEP SIX:  Stamp the bead with a small flower stamp. Make hole in flower bead. Bake beads.




STEP SEVEN: Distress the beads with acrylic paints. Brush on, wipe off excess



STEP EIGHT: Assemble earrings, add copper findings & beads
 
Here is a variation on these earrings

My Valentine Heart Bracelet is featured on Polymer Clay Daily

I was delighted to see my Valentine Heart Bracelet featured on Cynthia Tinapple's blog, Polymer Clay Daily. My morning ritual consists of sitting down with my cup of Hazelnut coffee, and looking at what new gems Cynthia has discovered to inspire us! It's a great way to start the day! She introduces us to artists from around the globe, and lets us peek at their latest creations and experiments.

Polymer Clay: What's on my Worktable this Week

I'm working on a few canes this week, using Premo Pearl clay in blends of woodsy earth tones, turquiose, green, brown, and tan.
I created a tab bead bracelet using the large cane, I added Gold Leaf accents to the edges. I polished the beads using my bench lathe. I also made a pendant & earring set, that has a coating of Enviro-tex lite resin.
The pink/orange/gold tab bracelet in the right hand corner was an experiment in Faux Raku. I used a base of black clay & texturized it with extra-large grit sandpaper. Then I applied Pearl-Ex powders & Perfect Pearls using my finger. Next, I dabbed on some Sculpey Glaze, then baked the beads for 30 minutes. The Sculpey Glaze caused the Pearl-ex powders to bubble up (looking more like a ceramic Glaze). While the beads were still hot from the oven I added some Kato Clear liquid clay straight from the squeeze bottle, kind of blobbing it on. I popped them in the oven again for another 30 minutes, using the heat gun to clarify them.